Flushing-valve.



Patented nec. 9.19021 FLUSHING VALVE. (Application lfiled. Nov. 29, 1901.)

w e W.

(No Model.)

IINrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL WALKER LEWIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLUSHlNG-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '715,67 5, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed November 29, 1901. Serial No. 83.961. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concer-n.-

Be it known that LSAMUEL WALKER LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to drawings forming a part of this specification in explaining their nature.

The objects of my invention are to produce a liushing-valve for sanitary purposes attachable directly to a water-closet bowl or similar receptacle that will be self -cleansing, will open easily, and close noiselessly, giving at closure an ample refill to the receptacle, and which can be regulated to govern both the length'and volume of flush without shutting off or interfering with the supply. These objects I accomplish by the apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein the same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the views.

Figure l is a vertical sectional View showing a modification of the valve in the act of closing and at the same time refilling the receptacle. Fig. 2 is a view showing all features of the invention, the valve beingopen toits eXtreme limit in the operation of full discharge. Fig. 3 illustrates another modi- Iication showing the open valve in the act of descending to shut off the water, and Fig. 4 is a transverse View of certainparts removed from the main valve of Fig. 2 for clearerillustration.

Referring to the drawings, A is a dischargechamber, forming a part of the valve casing or body and provided with a lateral extension a to accommodate a crank-arm KK', shaft or axle L, and handle M for operating the valve.

B is a supply cistern or chamber, forming another part of the Valve-body and surrounding the main-valve seat B2. It is connected to or made integral with the lower section A and is provided with an inlet connection b, whereby it can be attached directly to the supply pipe or main.

D is a cylinder-casing, with its lower end open,in communication with the supply, and is preferably provided at its upper end with a cap C, preferably attached by the screwthread c6, and sometimes I employ a square extension d2, adapted to receive a Wrench for screwing and unscrewing the cap C. In Figs. 2 and 3 an opening c2 in the cap is provided, with a valve-seat c5 at its lower edge and the screw-threaded cap or plugNto close its upper end.

F is a hollow main-valve piston, which may be wholly metallic or packed with leather or other material, if desired, to closely hug the cylinder D. Itis adapted to operate vertically within the casing D and is preferably provided at its upper end with a concave surface f and valve-seat f2 and at its lower endv with the main-valve washer f4, tubular eX- tension O,pressurechamberf", and the guidesleeve 0', leading down from the chamber]c3 within the part O, whichlatter is vprovided with perforations P for the purposes of relill and vent when closing, as set forth and described in my Patent No. 663,284.

V is a hollow spindle, having limited vertical movement within the sleeve o and valves'eat f2. In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 it is provided with stops v3 and lugs o2 at its lower end, also shoulder and lateral openings o4 near its upper end. In Fig. l an extension t" carries a relief-valve G', composed of a single packing, which is secured to said extension by the nut g3 and is adapted to close upon its seatfz. In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the extension I of spindle Y carries a relief-valve G, which is provided with a washer g', adapted to close down upon a seat f2, also a washer g2, adapted to close upward against a seat c5, and also a regulating vent-screw c3, as hereinafter described. In Fig. 3 the stops U3 are located near the upper end of the spindle and within the chamber f3. The lugs 'v2 are omitted and lateral openings in the spindle provided at o8.

In all the views the relief-valve G or G' cooperates with a removable differential-pressure head, septum, or subpiston T or T2, which throughout this specification and the claims I will term a pressure-head. It is of larger diameter than the relief-valve and practically piston-tight within the Wallv of chamber f3 and is adapted to operate auto- IOO matically by the differential pressure of Water upon its upper surface to close the reliefvalve and hold it irmly upon its seat when the main valve is closing. In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the pressure-head or subpiston slips over the spindle and rests tightly upon the shoulder i, whereby when the relief-valve G or Gr is removed the main-valve piston can be lifted out and detached from the spindle and as easily replaced. In Fig. 3 the spindle is cornposed of two parts V and o', united by the screw-thread '07. The part V is provided with the flange o6, and the part o is provided with the flange c5, and between said anges is clamped an elastic cupped packing, which forms the pressure-head T2, and the lower end of the spindle V is closed to form a bearing at o for the crank arm or toe K2. In this modification, the spindle not being connected to the crank-arm K2, by removing the cap C the main-valve piston F2, with all its parts, can be removed, taken apart, and replaced with facility. In Figs. l, 2, and i the stoplugs 'v3 are located to engage the sleeve 0', whereby the relief-valve will open slightly in advance of the main valve to relieve the mainvalve piston from pressure above it. In Fig. 3, the pressure-head T2 being rigidly attached to the spindle V o to facilitate its removal from the main-valve piston, I locate the stoplugs 113 within the chamber f3, whereby when the relief-valve G is removed and the upper and lower parts of the main-valve piston are disconnected at the thread oL the pressurehead T2 and spindle can be removed and replaced. In Fig. l the extension O and sleeve o' are integral with lthe main-valve piston F', which latter is provided with a removable concave head united to it by the screw-thread f5. In Fig. 2 the extension O and the sleeve o' are integral and screwed at 04 into the lower end of the piston F, the interior surface of the extension O at 02 forming a cylinder for the pressure-head T, and the shoulder o3 holds up the valve-washer]c4 in position. In Fig. 3 the extension O and sleeve 0 form an integral part, which is screwed at 04 into the mainvalve piston F2, its interior surface 02 forining a bearing for the pressure-head T2.

In Fig. l the outer end of the cylinderD is closed by a cap C, screwed to it at c6, a regnlating-screw c3 and its seat c4 being located at the upper end of the by-pass c', the lower end of the by-pass communicating with the inlet b. In Figs. 2 and 3 the removable cap C is provided with an opening c2, which is preferably sealed by a removable plug N. A seat is also provided at c5, and to provide a by-pass into the closed end of the cylinder I employ a regulating-screw c3, located in the upper end of the hollow spindle, the operation of which will be hereinafter explained.

In Figs. l and 3 the supply-chamber B and its inlet connection b are made integral with the discharge-chamber A, main-valve seat B2, and cylinder D. In Fig. 2 the supply-chamber B and its inlet?) are separate parts, united to the part A by a screw-thread b3 and to the cylinder D by a screw-thread b4, long enough to enable the cylinder D to be adjusted, as

hereinafter explained. To prevent any leak through the thread b4, a packing-nut W, with packing-space w3, screws at b5 to the part B.

In devices of this character provided with a main valve and a relief-valve to open in advance of the main valve, whereby the latter can be more easily opened, springs or weights have been generally employed to maintain the relief-valve upon its seat when the main valve is closing; but a weighted relief-valve is objectionable, because its holding power remains the same under all pressures, and when used upon very high pressure when the main valve approaches its seat the sudden increase of pressure from that of a rapidlymoving toward that of a static column in consequence of the frictional drag of the water upon the portion of the valve which in closing throttles or restricts the outlet or passes below the valve-seat, such frictional drag exceeding the tendency of the increased pressure to open the valve, causes the main valve to suddenly accelerate its closing movement, which in turn causes the relief-valve to instantaneously yield to a vacuum produced above it by the sudden qnickening of the main-valve movement, quicker than even the increased pressure can refill the chamber above it, and the main valve thus relieved from the restraining iniiuence of a closed chamber having only a restricted inlet or outlet drops to its seat with concussive force. Diiferent sizes and styles of the same valve have been tried and used for dierent pressure; but such remedy, not always edective, causes confusion and increases cost of pro duction. To overcome the difficulty and provide a valve of but one size and style for all pressures, I employ the differential-presenre head T or T2, of a greater diameter than the relief-valve, whereby the ejector action of the water flowing past the mouth of the sleeve o', exhausting or reducing the pressure below the pressure head in the pressure-chamber, will increase the holding power upon the relief-valve until the main valve is closed and the pressure on the discharge side of the valve has fallen.

To make my regulating-screw, which governs the length of iinsh, always accessible, I locate it in Fig. l at the end of the by-pass c beneath the removable cap N2, and in Figs. 2, 3, and 4L I locate it at the upper end of the hollow spindle and preferably provide the upper surface of the relief-valve G with a washer g2, adapted to close up against the seat c5, whereby when the relief-valve is elevated against the seat c5, as in Fig. 2, the plug N can be removed for adjustment of the regulating-screw by reducing the reill to produce a longer wash or increasing the refill to cause a shorter wash.

To regulate the volume of discharge without shutting oif the supply, I provide the cylinder D, Fig. 2, preferably with a screwthread b4 where it unites with the supplychamber B, which enables me to adjust the cylin- IOO IIO

der in or out sufficiently to regulate the volume of iiow between its lower edge and the outlet when the valve is open, or the cylinder D can be screwed against the bottom of the chamber B, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thus shut off the water, when by removing the cap C and relief-valve Gthe several parts will be accessible for removal. Thus I control and regulate both length and volume of flow or shut off the water without interfering with the supply service or the eldiciency of any other fixture or device. 1

Very serious difficulty in operation of Hushing-valves has been their liability to clog when used in water charged with sediment, which lodges between the main-valve piston and its cylinder, causing the main Valve to hang up or stick. I obtain most favorable results by making the top of my piston concave, as at f', and I also make the upper surface of the pressure-head concave, whereby any substance which settles upon either of these parts must drift toward the outlet and away from the wall of the cylinder or chamber. Thus in effect it becomes a self-cleansing device, and I regard this part of my invention as ofgreat value, because if all else be perfect without a means of washing away the sediment any device of this nature is useless in muddy or gritty water. In Fig. 2 the main-valve piston, for example, is solid and heavy to assist by gravity (if necessary) any difficulty of operation in muddy water; but I do not rely upon Weight and under usual conditions prefer the lighter forms, (shown in Figs. l and 3,) and under all conditions I prefer to make all parts of the relief-valve, pressure-head, and spindle as light as possible, depending wholly upon the pressure of the liquid to operate it.

If desired, the partsA andBin Fig. 2 could be made integral without the screw-thread b3, and other various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

In operation the first movement of the handle opens the small relief-valve, when, the stops 1:3 engaging the guide-sleeve o', the mainvalve piston is easily elevated to the top of the cylinder, as in Fig. 2, lthe water above it being expelled out and down through the spindle V as the piston moves up. While the main valve is open or any pressure exists beneath the main-valve piston, the large free open way through the hollow spindle allows the pressure to enter through the ports r4 into the pressure-chamber f3 above the pressurehead, as indicated by arrows, whereby when the handle M is released the differential pressure down upon the greater area of the pressurehead instantly and firmly closes the relief-valve, and the higher the pressure the more tightly it will remain closed until the main valve is seated, precisely the same as similar action is produced in a pressure-regulator, and in my device it wholly obviatesl the feature of water-hammer, and at the same time I obtain a very slow closure, whereby an ample after-fill is provided for the receptacle.

I have shown different forms of the spindle; but in practice I make its boreas large as possible and usually provide lateral openings or ports at its lower end, as at v8, Fig. 3, to prevent any possible downdraft effect caused by the waterflowing around it,and byproper care in construction and proportion of the parts the pressure always acts freely and certainly through the spindle upon the pressure-head, as described, at the same time, owing to closeness of iit or limited annular space between the spindle and guide-sleeve o and also to shape of the sleeve, the downward flow around the sleeve acts as an ejector or exhaust to draw out, and thus prevent upward pressure or any balancing effect beneath the pressurehead while the main Valve is open or the apparatus is in operation, whereby the eiect of pressure above and upon the pressure-head is sufficient to close the relief-valve and at the same time overcome the weight of the handle M and carry it back to its normal position.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1, In a self-closing and slow-closing valve mechanism, the combination with a valvechamber having inlet and discharge passages and a valve-seat, of a main piston-valve arranged to reciprocate within said chamber and close upon said seat and having a longitudinal passage and an interior chamber, a relief-valve for closing said passage, means for opening said relief-valve and said main valve, a movable pressure-head or septum in said chamber, connections between said pressure-head and said relief-valve such that the relief-valve may be closed by a movement of the pressure-head in one direction, and means whereby whenthe main valve is open a iluidpressure will be applied to said pressure-head on the side to close the relief-valve in excess of any fluid-pressure upon the opposite side thereof.

2. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination with a cylinder-casing open to the pressure and provided with a main-valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, of a hollow main-valve piston open at both ends to form a passage through it and adapted to operate within the cylinder and to close against and cooperate with the main-valve seat in closing, a pressure-head adapted to operate within the main-valve piston, a relief-valve connected to and of less area than said pressure-head and adapted to close the passage through the main-valve piston, and means for operating both valves, the relief-valve in advance of the main valve, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination with a cylinder-casing having one end normally closed ,and its other end open tothe pressure, of a main-valve piston adapted to operate within said cylinder to open and close the valve, a relief-passage between the TOO ITO

open and closed ends of the cylinder, a reliefvalve for opening and closing said passage, a pressure-head connected to and of greater area than said relief-valve, a pressure-chamber within the main-Valve piston forsaid pressure-head, and means for operating the main valve and relief-valve common to both, Whereby when the relief-valve is opened the mainvalve piston will be relieved from pressure in the closed end of the cylinder and when the main valve is closing the relief-valve will be kept closed by the differential pressure upon the pressure-head, as and for the purpose described.

4. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination with a valve-body and an inlet and an outlet and a main-valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, of a cylinder-casing open at one end to the pressure with the other end normally closed, a hollow main-valve piston open at both ends to form ya relief-passage through it and adapted to operate within said cylinder and to close upon and cooperate with the main-valve seat in closing, a pressure-head adapted to operate within said main-valve piston, a reliefvalve attached to and of smaller area than the pressure -head and adapted to open and close the relief-passage, a valve-seat about said passage for the reliefvalve, and means for opening both valves, the relief-valve in advance of the main valve, substantially as described.

5. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination of an inlet and an outlet and a mainvalve seat about the outlet, a cylinder-casing having one end open to the pressure and its other end normally closed, a main-Valve piston adapted to operate within said cylinder and to close against and cooperate with the main-valve seat in closing, a relief-passage between the open and closed ends of the cylinder, a relief-valve for-opening and closing said passage, a pressure-head connected to and of greater area than said relief-valve, a pressure-chamber within the main-valve piston for said pressure-head, a refill-vent passage between the open and closed ends of the cylinder-casing, a means for graduating and regulating said rell-vent, and means for operating the main valve and relief-valve, as and for the purpose described.

6. In a self-closing iiushing-valve, the combination of an inlet and outlet and a mainvalve seat about the outlet, a cylinder-casing having its upper end normally closed and its lower end open to the pressure, a hollouT main-valve piston adapted to operate within said cylinder and to close against the maillvalve seat in closing, a relief-passage through said main-valve piston, a 'relief-valve for opening and closing said passage, a pressurehead of greater area than said relief-valve and connected to it by a hollow spindle, a pressure-chamber within said main-valve piston for the pressure-head, a reiill-vent in the upper end of said spindle for admitting a refill to the closed end of the cylinder-casing when the main valve is closing, and means for operating the main valve and relief-valve common to both, as and for the purpose described.

7. In a self-closing and slow-closing valve mechanism, the combination with a valvechamber normally closed at one end and having its other end open to the pressure and provided with inlet and discharge ports and a main-valve seat, of a main piston-valve arranged to reciprocate within said chamber and close upon said seat and having a longitudinal passage and an interior chamber, a relief-valve for closing said passage, means for opening said relief-valve and said main valve, a movable pressure-head in said chamber and connected to said relief-valve, whereby when the main valve is open the reliefvalve will be closed by pressure upon the pressure-head, and a tubular extension attached to the main valve of a size to fit within and enter the outlet just before the main valve closes.

S. In a self-closing iiushing-valve, the combination with an outlet and a main-valve seat at the outlet, of a cylinder-casing closed at its upper end and a hollow main-valve piston operative within said casing adapted to close against the main-valve seat and having a relief-passage through it, a relief-valve for said passage, a differential-pressure head operative within said main-valve piston and connected to the relief-valve by a hollow spindle, a tubular guide for said spindle below said main-valve piston adapted to form an exhaust-ejector to prevent pressure below said pressure-head, a refill-vent into the closed end of the cylinder-casing, a tubular extension attached to the main valve and adapted to enter the outlet just before the main valve closes, and means for operating said main and relief valves.

9. In a self-closingiushing-valve, the combination with a cylinder -casing having one end closed and its other end open to the pressure, and an inlet an outlet and a main-valve seat, of a hollow main-valve piston operative within said casing to close against the mainvalve seat, its upper end being concave and having a relief-passage through it, and an interior chamber, a relief-valve seat at the upper end of said passage at the lower edge of said concave end, a reliefvalve to ciose against said seat to close said passage, a concave pressure head connected to and of greater area than said relief-valve and operative within said chamber by differential pressure upon its larger surface to automatically close the relief-valve.

l0. Inaself-closingiiushing-valve,thecombination with a cylinder-casing having its upper end closed and its lower end open to the pressure, and an inlet au outlet and a mainvalve seat, of a hollow main-valve piston operative within said casing and adapted to close against the main-valve seat, its upper end being concave and having a relief-passage IOO TIO

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through it, a relief-valve for said passage, a concave pressure-head connected with said relief-valve and operative in a chamber within said mainvalve piston, and means for opening said main and relief valves, whereby when open any sediment in said casing or said chamber will drift toward the outlet and wash away, substantially as described.

1l. Inaself-closingflushing-valve,the`com bination of an inlet an outlet and a cylindercasing having one end open toward the outlet and its other end closed, a main valve operative within said casing to close against said outlet, an adjustable retill-ventinto the closed end of the casing to regulate the movement of the main valve when closing, an opening in the closed end of the casing normally closed by a removable cover, and a valve to close against said opening when its cover is removed., substantially as and for the purpose described.

l2. In a self-closing tlushingvalve,the combination ot' an inlet and an outlet, a cylindercasing having one end open to the pressure and its other end closed except for an opening normally closed by a removable cover, a main valve operative within said casing to close against said outlet and having a relief-passage through it, a relief-valve for opening and closing said passage and also adapted to close against the opening in the closed end of the casing, an adjustable refill-vent through said relief-valveinto the closed end ofthe cylinder, and means for operating said valves, whereby when the relief-valve is held against said opening and its cover removed the refillvent can be adjusted without shutting off the water.

13. In a self-closing flushing device, the combination with a valve-body provided with an inlet and an outlet, of a cylinder-casing adj ustably attached to the valve-body and having one end closed, its other end open toward the outlet, its closed end being outside and its open end within the valve-body, a valve operative within said casing to close against said outlet and means for operating said valve, said casing being adjustable relative to its distance from the outlet to regulate the volume of discharge therethrough and also to shut o the flow by adjusting the casing against the valve-body about the outlet, as and for the purposes described.

14. In a self-closing iushing device, the combination with a valve-bod y provided with an inlet and an outlet, of a cylinder-casing attached to the valve-body by a screw-thread and having one end closed, its other end open toward the outlet, its closed end being outside and its open end inside the valve-body, a valve operative within said casing to close against said outlet and means for operating said valve,whereby said casing can be screwed toward or from the outlet to regulate the volume of discharge therethrough or screwed against the body about the outlet to shut off the flow, as and for the purpose described.

15. In a self-closing flushing device, the combination with a valve-body provided with an inlet, of a cylinder-casing adjustably connected to the valve-body by a screw-thread and having one end closed, its other end open toward the outlet, its closed end being outside and its open end inside the valve-body, a main valve operative within the casing to close against the outlet, a reliefpassage through said main valve, a relief-valve for said relief-passage, a refill-vent into the closed end of the casing, a removable cap provided with an opening, a cover for said opening, a valve adapted to close against said opening and means for operating said valves, as and for the purposes described.

16. In the self-closing flushing device described, the combination of the valve-body A B having inlet b and outlet B2, cylinder D adjustably connected to the part B by the screw-thread b4, the packing-nut W screwed to the part B at b5, main valve F to close the outlet provided with a relief-passage through it, and a relief-valve for said passage, and means for operating said valves, as and for the purposes described.

17. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination of an inlet, an outlet anda mainvalve seat about the outlet, a cylinder-casing having one end open toward the outlet and its other end closed, a main-valve piston operative within the casing when opening and adapted in closing to seat upon the outlet and provided with a reliefopening through it, a tubular extension projecting below the main valve of a size to enter the outlet before the main valvey closes, said extension constituting a chamber through which water passes, a relief-valve guided by a bearing Within saidv chamber and adapted to seat upon and close the' relief-opening, and means for operating the relief and main valves.

18. In a self-closing flushing-valve, the combination of an inlet, an outlet, a main-valve seat upon the outlet, a cylinder-casing having one end open toward the outlet its other end closed by a removable cap and a vent passage between the open and closed ends of the cylinder, a main-valve piston operative within the cylinder when opening, and to close against the main-valve seat and outlet and provided with a relief-opening through it, a tubular extension projecting below the main valve and of a size to enter the outlet before the main valve closes, said extension constituting a chamber through which water passes, a relief-valve guided by a bearing within said chamber and adapted to close the relief-opening, and means for operating said `relief and main valves.

19. In a self-closing liushing-valve, the combination of an inlet an outlet and a mainvalve seat at the outlet, a cylinder-casing normally closed at its upper end and a hollow main-valve piston operative within said casing adapted to close against the main-valve seat and having a relief-passage through it, a

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relief-valve for said passage, a differentialpressure head operative within said main- Valve piston and connected to the relief-valve by a hollow spindle, a tubular guide for said spindle below said main-valve piston adapted to form an exhaustejector' to prevent pressure below said pressure-head, a rellvent into the closed end ot' the cylinder-casing, and means for operating said main and relief valves.

20. Inaself-closngflushingvalve, the oombination of an inlet and an outlet, a cylindercasing having one end open toward the outlet and its other end normally closed, a mainvalve piston having its upper end substantially concave and adapted to move up into the cylinder when opening and in closing to seat against and close the outlet, a reliefopening through said piston, a tubular eX- tension projecting from and below the main valve and of a 'size to enter the outlet before the main valve closes, said tubular extension constituting a chamber through which Water passes, a relief-valve guided by a bearing within said chamber and adapted to close the relief-opening, a vent between the open and closed ends of the cylinder and provided with means to regulate the flow of Water through it, and a means of operating the reliel and main valves.

In testimony Whereof` I hereto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAML. WALKER LEWIS. lVitnesses:

W. R. SPooNER, AGNES E. ROGERS. 

